The latest TikTok trend has users busting through fences head-first pretending to be the Kool-Aid Man, and homeowners are red with anger.
The trend has been gaining traction since the summer and has TikTokers charging through fences into property enclosures, destructively paying homage to the Kool-Aid Man and the famous commercials he’d star in to promote the sugary, powdery goodness. The trend originated with people busting through their own walls, often without any protective equipment on. Now, as the meme takes a turn, suburban teens are on a tear of vandalism.
Two human-height holes were left in the fence of one longtime homeowner in Westerleigh, Staten Island, who wished to remain anonymous out of fear of falling victim to other copycats. “I went on our neighborhood Facebook page and noticed someone posted a video of this happening to them, too,” said the resident. “Others commented that they also had their fences damaged by young teens jumping through them.” Another user flagged the TikTok challenge as a possible explanation for the random damage.
“It will probably cost me $300 to repair…[and] the most frustrating part is the lack of respect the rough have today, and the unwanted cost it will put on me,” she said. “Who wants an expense like that during this time of year?”
John Miller of Nebraska said he was also hit by the trend last July, and had a repair cost of more than $2,000, according to Fox42 KPTM. “They need to learn a lesson,” said Miller. “Somebody’s either going to get hurt or something worse.”
A staggering fifteen cases of people being victimized by this trend have been reported to the police in the suburbs of Omaha, Nebraska. Unhappy residents have been hit with thousands of dollars of repair bills. Richard Phillips, a homeowner and victim in his town of Caldwell, had this to say: “What in the world goes through these kids’ minds to drive around so late at night and have the thought process of ‘Oh, I’m going to destroy someone’s fence?’” said Phillips to Idaho’s KVTB7. Phillips’s home was hit not once, but twice.
It should be noted that in New York, inflicting damage to someone’s property exceeding $250 is considered third-degree criminal mischief and a Class E felony. “Even if they get caught,” said the anonymous Westerleigh resident, “they wouldn’t be held accountable with the way the laws are now. They would probably get a slap on the wrist and no community service.”